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    American pop icon Tony Bennett passes away at 96; President Biden, Sir Elton John, Martin Scorsese pay loving tributes to ‘Because Of You’ crooner

    Synopsis

    Bennett was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2016. However, he continued to perform till 2021.

    tony benettAgencies
    In a career spanning eight decades, Bennett amassed many accolades, including twenty Grammy Awards, and two Prime Time Emmy Awards. He sold over 50 million albums and earned a spot on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame. He also gained top spot on the US Billboards at the age of 85! (Image Source: Twitter/itstonybennett)
    Iconic American crooner Tony Bennett has passed away. He was 96.

    The Twitter handle of the pop and jazz singer shared the news of his demise with his followers. “Tony left us today but he was still singing the other day at his piano and his last song was, ‘Because of You,’ his first #1 hit. Tony, because of you we have your songs in our hearts forever.”

    The post went viral on the microblogging site, amassing more than 5 million views and 108.3K likes.

    Many A-listers from the entertainment industry, as well as politics, took to Twitter to mourn the ‘I Left My Heart In San Francisco’ crooner.

    US President Joe Biden dedicated an emotional post to the late singer. Describing Bennett as a “classic” he wrote, “For more than 70 years, Tony Bennett didn’t just sing the classics – he himself was an American classic. There's no doubt about it – Tony Bennett's life was legendary. And his contributions to the arts in America will endure.”

    Other celebrities such as Elton John, Martin Scorsese, and former President Barrack Obama also mourned the late pop icon.

    “So sad to hear of Tony's passing. Without a doubt the classiest singer, man, and performer you will ever see. He's irreplaceable. I loved and adored him. Condolences to Susan, Danny, and the family." wrote Sir Elton John on his Instagram.

    Obama tweeted, “Tony Bennett was an iconic songwriter and entertainer who charmed generations of fans. He was also a good man-Michelle and I will always be honored that he performed at my inauguration. We're thinking of his wife Susan, his kids, and everyone who is missing him today."

    In an interview with AP, director Martin Scorsese described the late singer as a “consummate artist” and also the impact he had on the Italian American community. “ Very early on, his music quietly wove itself into the fabric of our lives. His voice felt as familiar and as close as the voices of our loved ones. I know that this was true for millions of people around the world. For Italian-Americans who were growing up in the middle of the twentieth century, that familiarity ran even deeper,” he told the news agency.

    In a career spanning eight decades, Bennett amassed many accolades, including twenty Grammy Awards, and two Prime Time Emmy Awards. He sold over 50 million albums and earned a spot on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame. He also gained top spot on the US Billboards at the age of 85!

    Bennett was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2016. However, he continued to perform till 2021.

    One hailed by Frank Sinatra as the “greatest popular singer in the world,” Bennett delivered several timeless hits such as ‘Because of You,’ ‘I Left My Heart in San Francisco’, and ‘New York State of Mind’.

    His last public performance was a duet with Lady Gaga at Radio City Music Hall in August 2021.

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